Would you agree that the cost of healthcare is high enough? If so, you should know that Domestic violence offenders are partly responsible for that high cost.
Intimate Partner Victims (IPV) can require a wide range of services. A physical assault might result in immediate emergency care, long-term treatment for emotional injuries, plus regular follow-up care. The children of abusers may also need medical attention that requires the injured parent to take time off from work, further complicating any of the family’s financial issues. A recent report commissioned by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN), The Economic Impact of Intimate Partner Violence in Ohio, reveals that the healthcare costs associated with effects of abuse are significantly higher than previously understood.
Doctors and healthcare systems are stretched by emergency services and those with chronic health problems. People suffering from Intimate Partner Violence tend to move in and out of the healthcare system, rather than completing the comprehensive care they need all at once. Abusive partners often isolate their victim from professional care which can lead to a vicious cycle of less effective treatment, repeated abuse and higher expenses for everyone.
In Ohio, the cost of IPV exceeds one billion dollars per year. Physical health care accounts for the largest share of that amount: about $265 million or 23% of the total. Lucas County is second only to Akron for costs of physical health care related to IPV.
The most cost-effective way to help IPV victims is to ensure easy access to comprehensive, coordinated care. Supporting victims of Intimate Partner Violence and the programs that serve them AND holding those perpetrating abuse accountable is what we need to do as a community – now more than ever.
To learn more about the cost of Intimate Partner Violence and how you can help, visit https://bethanyhousetoledo.org/ways-to-help/
Sponsored Ministry of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio
Member of the Sylvania Franciscan Ministries